Roof.



Patented July C. RUSSELL.

ROOF.

APPLICATION FILED 0m11.191s.

i, ED ST N;

PATE iv onirica.

CALVIN RUSSELL, 0F PENN YAN, NEW YORK, .ASSIGNOR TO CARRIE H. RUSSELL, 0F

PENN YAN,

NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.'

Patented July 6, 1915.

Application led October 11, 1913. Serial No. 794,557.

To all l/mm 'it may concern Be it known that I, CALVIN RUSSELL, a citizen of the United States, and resident 0f Penn Yan, county of Yates, and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Roofs, of which the following is a speciication.

The object of my invention is to provide a construction of shingled roof, in which all of the heretofore required water-proof qualities shall be retained with a greatly less number of shingles, whereby the cost of providing a shingled roof is greatly reduced, and the weight of the roof is materially lessened. v

In carrying out my invention, I prefer to employ ordinary rectangular shingles of wool or other felt impregnated with asphaltum, but under the generic consideration of my invention, these shingles may be composed of any material desired.4

More specifically considering the invention, I provide the roof foundation with a series of horizontal rows of shingles from the eaves to the roof crown and so arranged as to overlap, the shingles of each of the horizontal rows so spaced that there shall be a wide separation between adjacent shingles making up each such horizontal row, vand the s aces of one row of shingles being staggeredpwith respect to spaces of adjacent rows, the construction being such that the exposed portions of the shingles present substantially large inverted T-shaped surfaces, the whole providing a thoroughly impervious roof covering with a greatly less number of shingles than has heretofore been required with shingles of similar shape.

My invention also comprehends details of construction which, together with the features above specified, will be better understood by reference to the drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a portion of a roof showing the shingle construction embodying my invention; Fig. 2 represents a section on line of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 represents a section on line y-fz/ of Fig. 1.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the ordinary framing or foundation of a roof structure, which may be of any suitable character, and in connection with which my improved shingle structure may be employed for forming the complete Water and Weather proof covering.

2 designates the shingles, which may be of any material desired, and which, in the present instance are rectangular in shape and adapted to be laid in overlapping relation. The shingles, when arranged 1n the special manner set out, embody the features of novelty of my invention and produce a great saving in cost over roofs heretofore constructed employing similar shingles, per se, by fully covering a roof with a less number of shingles, while at the same time preserving not only an artistic appearance, but having the advantage of being lighter in' weight, while embodying a condition which is Water-tight and impervious to dampness and the like.

In constructing a roof under my invention with a plurality of shingles, each shingle is so overlapped or positioned with respect to adjacent shingles as to give the effect of a -shaped surface for the exposed portion of each shingle, the leg or base portion of this T-shaped surface being of comparatively large area. By thus positioning the shingles so as to form a plurality of eX- posed T-surfaces I am enabled to save from 30 to 40% of the shingles heretofore required in an ordinary shingle roof construction using rectangular shingles, and this will be apparent as the construction is more fully explained` In carrying out my invention, a horizontal row of shingles is first laid along the bottom edge or eave of the roof as shown at 3, the said shingles being spaced apart preferably a distance equal to about one-half the width of a shingle, but it will be understood that I do not desire to be limited to this exact spacing, since it will be obvious that the same may. be varied according to conditions, such as to enable uniform spacing of the shingles with a given length of roof. Upon this row of shingles 3 there is placed a second horizontal row in break joint relation, that is, each shingle is superposed upon a pair of the first row shingles and so positioned as to bridge the space between the shingles of the first mentioned row 3. I have here designated this second row of shingles by the reference numeral 4:. The two rows of shingles in the same horizontal position are secured together, and also to the roof frame 1 by suitable nails 5 or like securing means, and the number of these nails to each shingle is preferably lim ited, and the arrangement is such thatl none of the nail heads are exposed to view.

'lhe next row of shingles 6 is placed in position upon the row 4 in longitudinal or vertical alinement with the first row of shingles 3, and also in break joint relation to the row 4, but each shingle of the row 6 projects beyond the upper end of the row 4 as clearly appears. T he roof therefore is made up of a series of rows of shingles, the respective shingles of each horizontal row being spaced greatly apart and one row being partially superposed with respect to the next preceding row and the shingles of each row so positioned as to provide a break joint relation to the shingles of the next row. Thus, the first horizontal row of the series of shingle rows is partially superposed by the shingles of row 6 and the following rows succeed each other in like order.

It will be noted that it is preferable, along the side edge or edges 7 of the roof, to provide shingle strips 8 in order not only to preserve the uniform T-shape surface construction, but also to prevent water or dampness getting beneath the shingles at the joints along the edge of the roof. Further, filler strips 9 may be employed to ill the space between the shingles 3, and between the shingles 4, since it will be noted that without these filler strips 9 there is a space between the aforesaid shingles due to the thickness of the interposed portions of the shingles. These filler strips 9 may, if desired, be used throughout the entire roof construction, but this is an unnecessary waste of material and an added expense since it is only adjacent the bottom edge that there is danger of water banking up and working back beneath the shingles. Furthermore, by reference to Fig. 3 it will be noted that the superposed rows of shingles, when subjected to the action of the elements, naturally bend under their own weight and thus in a measure close the space between adjacent shingles, and it has been found in practice that this natural bending tendency of the shingles is amply sufficient to prevent leakage or dampness entering at the joints along the major portion of the roof where there is little tendency for rainwater or the like to bank up and cause trouble. rlhe banking up of the water referred to is usually due to ice forming at the eaves and providing a dam which under certain weather conditions builds up to highly objectionable proportions, especially where the inclination of the roof is not very steep.

Attention is directed to the method of nailing the shingles whereby none of the nails are exposed to view; and this construction is carried out in the following manner and will be understood by considering, for

example, a pair of shingles 8, the superposed shingle 4 and the second pair ofshingles 6. 'lhe shingles 3 are each nailed to the frame 1 by a pair of nails 5, one at each side thereof, near its lower end, and the heads driven flush with the surface of the said shingle. One of the shingles 4 is now superposed upon a pair of the shingles 3 and two nails 5 driven through both shingles and into the frame 1, the position of said nails being about halfway up on the shingles. These nails are also driven so that their heads are flush with the surface of the shingle 4. A pair of shingles 6 is now superposed upon the shingle 4 and covering the pair of nails last driven, and in turn nailed in position, said nails passing through all three shingles 3, 4 and 6. rlhereafter the respective shingles 6, 7, etc., to the crown of the roof would only require attachment by four nails instead of six as in case of shingles 3. In this way the shingles are successively laid, each being preferably securely held by at least two pairs of nails, one pair near the top ofthe shingle and the other pair, as above described, at approximately the middle of each side of said shingle.

By my novel construction of roof structure, for every couple of shingles which are used, there is a saving of anywhere from one third to one half of a shingle, and for the whole roof there is a saving of approximately -30 toA 40% in the number of shingles required over what is necessary in the ordinary shingle roof construction. lt will therefore be apparent that the aggregate saving in cost for the entire roof covering amounts to about 35% in material and also a very great reduction in labor expense owing to the less number of shingles required to be laid to cover a given area. It will. furthermore, be apparent that in addition to the saving of material, I have provided a roof covering construction which iswatertight and impervious to leakage, while being of approximately 30 to 50% lighter'.

W'hile I have previously stated that the shingles may be Iliade of any suitable material, l prefer, however, in practice, to employ wool felt impregnated with asphaltum compound for the reason that it is light, non-breakable, thoroughly impervious to moisture, and is flexible so that it adapts itself to enable the shingles to set and interengage or lock when exposed to the weather, and thereby form a tighter and stronger roof, notwithstanding the greatly less material employed in the surface covering. By examining Figs. 2 and 3 it will be seen that the flexibility of these shingles enables them to curve in any direction so as to interlock or iit snugly together. ln Fig. 3 it will be seen that the central or T- shaped surfaces of the respective shingles sags down and fits snugly between the edges of adjacent shingles so as, in effect, to lock the shingle against lateral displacement, and at the same time to make a comparatively tight contact upon the shingle surface immediately below. It will also be seen from Fig. 3 that the nails 5 are thoroughly protected so that there is no opportunityfor weather conditions to cause them to rust. ln practice, a roof covered with my improved shingles, when subjected to the intense heat rays of the summer sun causes the asphaltum of the contacting surfaces of the shingles to become heated and to cement the said surfaces together, this being due to the confining of the air under the shingles and its increase of temperature owing to lack of circulation. In this manner the roof structure as a whole becomes more or less cemented together, notwithstanding that it is laid with individual shingles. This automatic cementing of the shingles, moreover, insures a highly resistant covering which cannot be injured by any storms not capable of destruction of the building itself. Furthermore, by the interlocking of the shingles by the sagging down of the unsupported portions bridging between adjacent shingles, the entrance upward and under the lower edges of the shingles becomes substantially sealed so that no action of the wind can force water up under the shingles, and furthermore cannot have such free access thereto as might cause shingles to be blown off.

While the shingles may be of wool felt saturated with asphaltum or its equivalent compound and with a smooth upper surface, the said upper surface may be protected in any of the usual manners, such as being coated with crushed slate, brick, stone, sand or other vitreous material which improvesthe appearance and at the same time increases the resistance against fire, but such covering for the shingles is no part of my invention.

I have shown the preferred construction of my improved shingled roof in which the exposed T-shaped surfaces are in the proportions which I prefer in practice as giving the greatest saving in materials, coupled with thorough protection in the joints, but it is evident that this proportion may be more or less modified, especially where the general shape of the shingles is changed. It is evident that where the shingles are made wider they may be separated to a greater distance than here shown and yet provide the same amount of lapping for forming the joints, and likewise, if the shingles are made longer, a greater depth of the exposed parts may be provided in each successive row, all of which willbe readily understood by those skilled in the art. It is also evident that the strips S may be omitted if desired and the lateral edges of the end shingles may be allowed to rest directly upon each other, but vI prefer, for manifest reasons, to employ these additional. end strips 8, just as l prefer to employ the transverse damming. strips 9 in connection with the three lower rows 3, 4. and (3 of the shingles.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim and desire to protect b v Letters Patent is 1. In a roof structure, the foundation, combined with a covering of shingles made of felt material impregnated with asphaltum and secured thereto in permanent relation, said shingles arranged in horizontal overlapping rows, successive rows being at higher elevations so as to expose the lower portions of each shingle, and the adjacent shingles of each row widely separated at a distance apart less than the width of the separate shingles, and further having the spaces between shingles of one row in vertical alinement with the shingles of the next I adjacent rows, whereby the bridging portions of the shingles sag down into the spaces beneath to provide an interlocking construction, and the exposed surface of each shingle of substantially inverted T- shape form.

In a roof structure, the roof frame, combined with a plurality of shingles of pliable felt impregnated with a hydrocar bon compound arranged in a series of horizontal rows and the shingles of' each row spaced apart less than the width of a shingle, each row being superposed upon the preceding lower row, and each shingle of a row bridging the space between adjacent shingles of the said preceding row and adapted to sag down into said space to provide an interlocking' construction, filler plates of shingle material disposed between the rows of shingles forming the substantial lower boundary of the roof, and means to secure said shingles to a roof frame in fixed relative arrangement.

3. In a roof structure, a foundation, combined with a covering of pliable shingles made of felt material impregnated with a hydrocarbon and consisting of a bottom horizontal row of shingles spaced apart a distance less than the width of a shingle, a second horizontal row of shingles similarly spaced and directly superposed with respect to said first row in break joint relation and with the sides of the shingles of the two rows overlapping and in which both of` said rows have the same relative vertical position upon the foundation, and a plurality of additional horizontal rows each having their vshingles arranged in a Vsimilar laterally spaced relation and each succeeding row being partially superposed upon the preceding row so as to expose the lower portions of the shingles thereof, and the shingles of each row sagging down into the spaces between the shingles of each preceding row to provide an interlocking construction.

4. ln a roof Structure, the foundation, combined with a covering of pliable shingles secured thereto in permanent relation, said shingles arranged in horizontal overlapping rows, successive rows being at higher elevations so as to expose the lower portions of each shingle, and the adjacent shingles of each row Widely separated at a distance apart less than the width of the separate shingles, and further having the spaces between shingles of one row in vertical alinement with the shingles of the next adjacent rows, whereby the bridging portions of the shingles sag down in-to the spaces beneath to provide an interlocking construction.

ln testimony of which invention, ll hereunto set my hand.

CALVlN RUSSELL. Witnesses:

LINN E. DEXTER, W. R. MCCANN. 

